A Blizzard Warning is in effect until 1 p.m. Saturday. The National Weather Service is advising people not to travel after noon on Friday. A Snow Emergency and Parking Ban take effect at noon on Friday.

“Our number one goal right now is to make sure people stay safe,” Mayor Menino said. “The best thing everyone can do today and tomorrow is to stay home. Please stay off the roads, stay safe and let our Public Works crews work.”

· A Snow Emergency and Parking Ban will go into effect at noon

· All City buildings will close at noon

· Boston Public Works has 600 pieces of equipment on city streets

· 34,000 tons of salt are available for use

· The Boston Fire Department has added 7 extra fire trucks from its reserves and 8 rapid response vehicles to monitor downed power lines and other road hazards

· Boston Police have a full deployment in the field, and the shift may be held over throughout the storm.

The Mayor seeks to avoid gridlock on City streets and keep the streets clear to allow for Public Works and emergency vehicles to have unobstructed access to the roads. Commuters are asked not to drive into the City on Friday unless absolutely necessary.

Residents with storm-related questions or concerns should call the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline at 617-635-4500 which will have extra staff on hand to field any possible increase in calls due to the storm.

Snow Emergency

While a snow emergency is in effect, parking is prohibited on all major arteries in Boston. Mayor Menino urges everyone to use public transportation when traveling. Residents are reminded to remain at home throughout the duration of this snow event and businesses tomorrow should consider asking employees to work from home.

Mayor Menino also reminds residents of the following:

· Older residents or those with health conditions should refrain from shoveling this heavy wet snow.

· During a Snow Emergency, parking is prohibited on all major arteries in Boston. These streets are posted with “Tow Zone - No Parking During Snow Emergency” signs.

During declared snow emergencies, discounted parking is available at several parking lots and garages to cars that display Boston resident parking stickers. Residents are encouraged to use the City’s “Know Snow” program for access to other important storm-related information. For more information, visithttp://cityofboston.gov/snow

The City's Shelter Commission asks that any resident who sees a potential medical emergency involving a homeless person dial 911.

To receive notifications about emergencies from the City, register for the Alert Boston network at http://www.cityofboston.gov/alertboston/. You can also follow @NotifyBoston on Twitter.